School lock down not needed after employee's threats, officials say

Edmond Public Schools officials said they did not believe it was necessary to lock down Sequoyah Middle School when a school employee made threats to a suicide hotline Monday.

"Typically, a lock down is done when the entire student body is done. Once police got here and were able to defuse the situation, they realized that that wasn't necessary," EPS spokeswoman Susan Parks-Schlepp said.

Witnesses said there were dozens of students outside the school when the threats were made Monday night.

Police said the suicide hotline worker called police after deeming the threats to be credible.

"As soon as we got the 911 call, several officers responded, and we immediately located him," police officer James Hamm said. "As officers questioned the school employee in a classroom, the principal and other staff members were made aware of the threats."

Hamm said it was up to school officials whether or not to lock down the school.

"We will advise the school of what is going on. It's ultimately up to them whether they want to put the school on lock down or not. School administration decided against it," he said.

Police took the employee to a mental health facility.

School administrators would not provide the name of the employee and said it was too soon to determine if he will be allowed back at the school.

A school spokesperson said there was no plans to review the District's lock down procedures.

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